THE Archbishop of York has led tributes to a former diocesan chancellor and General Synod chair, Geoffrey Tattersall KC, who died on Sunday, aged 77.

Born in Lancashire in 1947, Mr Tattersall was called to the bar in 1970 and appointed QC in 1992. He served as a diocesan chancellor in both Carlisle and Manchester, and as a chair of bishops’ tribunals held under the Clergy Discipline Measure.

Archbishop Cottrell described Mr Tattersall as “very much a gift” to the Church of England, who had “put his considerable legal expertise and razorlike mind” at its service.

“For many years Geoffrey was a much valued and thoughtful member of the General Synod. With a ready wit and relaxed manner he was a fair and popular chair in Synod debates.”

Most memorable, he said, was the debate allowing the blessing of same-sex couples in February 2023 (News, 10 February 2023).

The lead bishop for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process that led to the vote, the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said that he was “saddened by the death of Geoffrey Tattersall KC, whose chairing of Synod debates, including LLF, with humour and integrity, greatly aided our discernment. His gift was to foster good-natured debate, even in moments of deep difference. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”

The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, said of Mr Tattersall: “His wise judgement and gentle humour from the chair defused many a tricky session of the General Synod.”

General Synod members stood to applaud Mr Tattersall after he chaired a taxing debate on the LLF process, in February 2023, which ran on to a second day (News, 17 February 2023).